Christian charity worker murdered

22 October 2008

^{Gayle Williams
Photo from}^{SERVE Afghanistan}

Gayle Williams (34), a dual South African-British citizen, was shot to death by two gunmen on a motorbike in Kabul, Afghanistan at approximately 8:00 a.m. on October 20.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the killing, saying that she "came to Afghanistan to teach Christianity to the people." Williams worked with SERVE (Serving Emergency Relief and Vocational Enterprise), a Christian organization that helps the disabled.

Thank God for organizations like SERVE that demonstrate Christ-like love to their communities. Pray for comfort for those grieving the loss of Gayle. Pray that those in militant groups come to know Christ's love in their lives.

To learn more about the persecution Christians face in Afghanistan, click here. To view a news video on this incident click here.

Afghanistan

Current Ministry Projects
VOMC works with ministry partners to provide Afghan Christians with evangelistic and discipleship radio broadcasts to equip followers of Jesus to present the Gospel in a specialized, culturally relevant, and context-sensitive way. VOMC is also helping our ministry partners to translate scripture into the Dari language.

Project Funds: Underground Church, Relief & Development, Bible
Country Information
Population
39,232,003 (July 2023 est.)

Ethnicity
Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek and others

Religions (%)
Islam (99.7), Christianity and other (0.3)

Government type
Muslim Theocracy

Leader
Taliban Leader Haybatullah Akhundzada

Legal system
Taliban Islamic Courts

Source: CIA World Factbook
Pray for Afghanistan
Pray for the protection of these Afghan believers, and for the consistency of their witness, as God continues to build His church according to Matthew 16:18 ("the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it"). In addition to protecting them from physical danger and harm, ask God to insulate these minority Christians from the spiritual oppression surrounding them. May these dedicated followers of Christ mature spiritually and grow in both faith and number.

Afghanistan News

Taliban Orders Strict Sharia Punishments

Haibatullah Akhundzada
Photo: Wikipedia

When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, they promised moderation and justice for all. Regrettably, they have demonstrated something very different, as the rights of women, freedom of the news press, and fair treatment of religious minorities have been brutally repressed. In a recent development, Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada ordered all judges to impose strict Sharia punishments for crimes committed within the country. While the exact list of applicable crimes has not been defined, expected punishments include amputations, public lashings and executions by stoning.

Read more...
Light in the Midst of Darkness

Watch the video interview with Shoaib Ebadi.

When the Taliban gained control over the governance of Afghanistan a year ago, many organizations were forced to shut down their in-country operations and thousands of believers decided to leave because of the suffering they knew would be coming as a result. Many other Christians, however, chose to remain in the country to be witnesses for Christ despite the severe danger.

Read more...
Currently Ranked Most Dangerous Country for Christians

A member of the Taliban.
Photo: Screenshot from Voice of America

Each year, the Open Doors International organization publishes a list of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to follow Jesus. For the past 20 years, North Korea has topped that list due to the oppressive rule of the Kim dynasty (see the North Korea country report for more details).

In the most recent report, which was published this January, a shift in ranking has clearly taken place. Afghanistan is now at the top of the list, designating it as the most dangerous country to be a Christian. According to Open Doors, the change is not because of improvements in North Korea. On the contrary, the level of persecution in the so-called "Hermit Kingdom" has increased. However, with the return of the Taliban to power, the already oppressive nation of Afghanistan has become so dangerous for Christians that it is now considered the most perilous nation in the world.

Read more...
Report Highlights Dire Conditions for Religious Minorities

Pray that the Lord will draw Taliban members to Himself.

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has stated that Christians and other religious minorities in Afghanistan face "dire consequences, including death, if discovered by the Taliban" for openly expressing their beliefs. Since most Afghan Christians are converts from Islam, all Christians are considered "apostates" by the Taliban – a crime that is punishable by death.

Read more...

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